Research Interests, Student Ensembles and Lecturing work

Matthew's research interests are centred on Early Music in general with a specialism in music for the lute and related instruments. He also has interests in World Music, Folk Music and Ethnomusicology. In recent year Matthew has developed an interest in the Music of Georgian Bath. Last year Matthew gave papers to the following conferences: BSECS (Oxford), The International Pipe and Tabor Society (Gloucester), the Foundlings Hospital Standing Conference(London), Medieval and Renaissance Music Conference (Nottingham), the Chalemie Summer School (Oxford) and the Shakespeare Summer School (Cambridge). In 2014 he is booked to teach for the IMC (Leeds), and is guest speaker at the Utrecht Festival, and for The Lute Society, and The Galpin Society Conference. Lecturing for West Dean College: Course of six lectures on the history of musical instruments in context 1100-1750. At Bath Spa University Matthew runs a number of student ensembles including the Bath Spa Gamelan. which is performing in the Bath Festival on 31st May 2013 at Monkton Coombe School. He also directs the Bath Spa Georgian Band which performs each year at the Bath Pump Rooms, and Assembly Rooms. Based on an orchestra typical of 1760 it has pioneered performances of Bath composers such as James Brookes, Thomas Shaw, Thomas Linley (father and son), Venanzio Rauzzini and Frederick Herschel. The band has performed a large piece by Handel each year (in last years this has included The Messiah, Acis and Galatea, Hercules and Saul). Matthew also runs the Bath Spa Waits, a Madrigal group and a Recorder ensemble.